OLX Classifieds

OLX

Not very well heard of a name is this Classifieds site – OLX Classifieds is the largest Classifieds site with its support in 87 countries & 39 languages already and growing. Its free, its online and its classifieds.

Craigslist is one of the most popular names in this industry, but this site claims to be the future, and well it has a point to make with its rapidly increasing number of subscriber base and very user friendly interface.

The features include:

• Mobile access for each and every country site.
• Supports listing with pictures as well as videos.
• Integration with social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace.
• Simple, easy to use interface.
• Amazing search filters, making it easy to find things.

The listings have really great varieties in it. It includes things starting from a paper bag to a community to coaching classes to animals to electronics to vehicles to jobs to real estate and also people. The listings is just huge and again all of the listings are Free.

One of the features I personally loved was its search. It has many options of filters. You can search by filtering the minutest of the aspect of a product. That helps you save a lot of time by straight away rejecting unwanted material.

I loved the home-page interface, but it disappoints a little when it comes to the listing interface. Though it supports pictures and video listings very few of them have used video listing and in fact some of them have not even used the picture listing feature. Pictures should have been mandatory. For some listings the prize is just not mentioned or its written as 0 which obviously cannot be, so that tends to again disguise the customer.

Most of the above issues are present even in the other sites like Craigslist, hence it would be better to see the places where it gains over the others. I would hence give this site a thumbs-up.

LINK : http://www.olx.com

A Programmer’s Site

CodeChef

CodeChef is India's first, non-commercial, multi-platform online coding competition, featuring monthly contests in more than 35 different programming languages. It is a Programmer’s heaven. It is now open to US users too. An ultimate place to learn for free, show your skills for free, and also earn while learning. The image below explains exactly what this site has to offer.

Now, that I am not a professional programmer, I may not be able to explain each and every detail of the site, but for sure I can say that it is very useful for those who are into programming or want to learn. Monthly there are competitions set up on various topics of programming and a winner is selected at the end of the month. there are basically two different types of competitions.

• Traditional Programming
• Gamer’s Programming

For rest of the time there is a practice area, a help section too where you would get help on coding, on a few codes pre-written for examples. Also over and above this there is a Practice Section divided into three sections of Easy, Medium and Hard. Each section would contain a few topics depending on the difficulty. Answers from various users are also given there, so the learning process can continue there itself.

The other big advantage is the discussion forums. Its a very active forum and a well managed one too… Enjoy coding.

Link : http://www.codechef.com

Universal Avatar Concept

Gravatar

Today almost everyone has a number of accounts to handle, and all of them have a profile containing your profile picture/avatar. It sort of makes sense to have unanimous identity everywhere, and that includes having the same avatar everywhere.

This site above just helps you implement it easily. All you have to do is follow a few steps.

1. Create a profile on Gravatar.
2. Upload your picture(via Hard Disk, Some URL, Your Webcam)
3. Set your various E-mail addresses as the default id to use it.

So as the site says “globally recognized avatar”. It does this job the best.

It already has tie-ups with many websites and is in the process of acquiring set-ups with other popular websites too. some commenting scripts such as JS-Kit also has a tie up with Gravatar. Then all you have to do is give your Gravatar ID to the services you are using and your profile’s avatar is then always synchronized with Gravatar. So if you have done that job in 10 services first, all you have to do for changing your profile picture everywhere is change it in Gravatar.

Now for the sites with whom Gravatar doesn't have a Tie-up. With many websites it has a few tips and tricks/Hacks mentioned in its help menu. Some little bit of scripting that they tell you to do and its all done again.

Even if that is not possible, if you just copy the Gravatar URL and use it to upload your picture (this feature is available by almost every website) and again your avatar is synchronized.

To my opinion this site really appeals, as this service is useful in-fact very useful and is also offered by none other than Gravatar and hence no competition.

LINK : http://www.gravatar.com

A UNYK Address Book

www.unyk.com
 
UNYK is a smart address book which is really the need of the hour for today's generation. All of us have E-Mail accounts, in-fact many of them. You would have different people in different accounts, thus making it difficult for you to remember about each and everyone’s where-about . So here comes a UNYK(unique) address book.
All you need to do is a one time hard work of not adding your contact manually (you can always do that) but asking your friends to join it and create a profile there. Now once your profile is created UNYK will synchronise your contacts with your Yahoo, Gmail, Outlook, AOL, Orkut, Facebook & from your own Mobile contacts and will always keep them up-to-date according to their UNYK profiles. Now you will be wondering how does this help you?
Many-a-times it happens that people change their E-mail id’s, contact number, etc. But in your address book the old one remains while the new one is not even updated until and unless you remember, hence by mistake you tend to contact him/her via his old contact info. This is definitely not what you want. Hence UNYK will keep it updated as soon as your friend updates his profile, hence i said the downside that all your contacts will have to use UNYK too for it to be really effective, and hence a one time hard work.

Lets look into some other features.

1. All your contacts from various sources in one place.
2. A private address book.
3. Birthday Reminders.
4. Mobile Updates & Synchronization. 
5. A Digital Identity.
6. Segregate each of your contacts into groups and levels.
7. Available in SIX different languages.
8. Simple Interface.
9. Its free…:)

To describe the above features in brief. Its a private and very secure address book. Since its just one address book that you have to manage you can definitely give time to it and hence have it very well managed and ordered. You can keep Birthday Reminders here itself via E-Mail or even SMS, hence also avoiding the use of another service specially for birthdays. One more service fitted into this site is synchronizing your contacts with your mobile automatically(Now that’s an amazing thing), and once you have verified your mobile phone your mobile will remain synchronized always according to your UNYK profile. UNYK also provides you with a UNYK id. hence everyone registered to UNYK will have its own unique id which directs to your unique profile and hence can also be used as a digital identity of yours.
The downside though not many.

1. Your contacts will have to be a part of UNYK for your service to be effective.
2. Simple interface but still could have been better.
3. Mobile Synchronization is free just for 60 days.

Link – www.unyk.com

Online Task Manager

www.forcedo.com

ForceDo is an online task manager, pretty much similar to what Google Tasks has to offer but with a little more options, a better organized one too. In most of the task managers you will start by creating lists and then entering your tasks into it and later just giving it a tick once its done, thus maintaining a list of all the tasks you have completed with the tasks still to do.

Now, ForceDo does the same thing adding more essence to it. A little more fun too and also at the same time adding more productivity by adding a timer to all your tasks. You can select whatever time you want for each and every task to be completed. Thus time pressure will make you work more sincerely and in a better mannered way, making you complete your tasks in a more productive and also quicker way. Well now once you have started your timer, it doesn't mean that you have to go ahead with that plan, you can pause the timer and even edit your tasks.It has various interesting sound notifications, you can keep a notification to indicate the starting and ending of a task or even warn you just minutes before the completion of a task to hurry up. That is cool!


The key features it has to offer are :-
1) Online task manager to access it from anywhere.
2) A Task Manager with timer for each and every task.
3) Sound notifications.

4) Integration with Twitter.
5) Very simple and easy interface.

Now since its still in Beta, the features i would expect to be added soon are :-
1) SMS notifications.
2) E-Mail notifications.
3) A mobile version of the site.
4) An add-on for Firefox/Internet Explorer.


So the summary I would put forward would be that ForceDo has a lot to offer, much more than even Google Tasks, but still a long way to go for it to be the best.

Online Collaboration Site

www.box.net
Many Business people require the need to store their documents securely, and also be able to access them whenver required from any place(obviously with internet), and also colaborate changes in the file with various group members simultaneously. "Box.net" is just the right stop for a person with that kind of a requirement.
You can create, share, edit and collaborate with other colleagues at the same place without having a need to even install a software. A Group Discussion is also one of the major features "Box.net" has to offer.

The Services it has to offer include :
1) Instant File Sharing with collaboration which makes it a online work place

2) Mobile Access via GPRS or 3G
3) Folder Layout

4) File Commenting and Group Discussions

5) Live Updates of the changes made to a particular file
6) Very easy to use interface which makes it fun to work.
7) Integration with various online editors and sharing facilities like Zoho, EditGrid, Efax, Facebook, Google Apps, iPaper, Picnik and more....

"Box.net" offers a Lite(Free), Professional($19.95/month) and a Business($15/user/month) plan for its customers.


Free Plan Features include :
1) 1 GB Storage space
2) 25 MB per file upload
3) Maximum of 5 Collaboration folders.



Professional Plan Features include :
1) 15 GB Storage space
2) 1 GB per file upload
3) Maximum of 10 Collaboration folders
4) A Version History viewing feature

5) 24x7 Phone Support.

Business Plan Features include :
1) 15 GB Storage Space
2) 1 GB per file upload
3) Unlimited Collaboration folders
4) Version History Feature
5) 24x7 Phone Support
6) Custom Branding
7) Admin Console
8) Extra Security and Permission Control.

Cellular Sites

www.gsmarena.com
GSM Arena is one of the most popular cellular information site. It has the minutest details of each and every cell phone launched throughout the world, in fact even those that are about to be launched soon. Pricing of each cell is also available but only in Euros, which is a disadvantage for people outside Europe, but neverhteless you can always convert. The reviews are written after testing it completely. For example if its a camera phone you will find pictures taken from the particular phone to test its camera and just compare it with other models. User reviews are also available. Its worth a bookmark.

www.se-nse.com
Se-Nse is a wonderfull site for all Sony Ericsson fans. Its termed as the Unofficial Sony Ericsson site with detailed news, reviews of all Sony Ericsson products with videos of unboxing of each cell. It sports its own Forum too which has more than 1,50,000 registered users. Once you visit the forum you will find information that you will find nowhere else about Sony Ericsson Cell Phones. So this site is musy visit especially for all Sony Ericsson Fans and for those who arnt will turn into one after visiting the site and forum.

Online Editors

www.copytaste.com
CopyTaste enables you to create your own private URL with the data you wish to share with your friends or colleagues. Its easy, fast and is there with you anytime, anywhere. All that you need is an internet connection. You can insert text, image and video files and no limits to how much you want to add, its just a copy-paste away. It has an integration with one of the most widely used browser Firefox. There is a plugin which can integrate with the browser from where you can easily paste things directly from the browser itself.

www.pdfvue.com
Ever wondered if you could edit your pfd files? Well there are softwares for that but most of them paid. Here is a site which again has the biggest advantage of you being able to access it anytime you want from any place in the world. Its an online pdf edting web-page. All you have to do is upload your file, make the necessary changes and again download back the edited file. Its a site worth being bookmarked by everyone.

Do More With Your Mobiles...

www.goosync.com
You would have guessed it from the name that its something from Google.Well its a useful tool for many people out here, this site lets you synchronize your google calender with your mobile phone. Keeps you updated about your tasks to do, and all that you can have in google calender straight to your cell phone. Also, it has an auto sync feature which will look at your cell phone at a regular interval for updates in your calender and then sync it up with google calender automatically, saving your time to specially update your google calender.

www.getmooh.com
Ever wanted to make a prank call or make some kind of automated call to someone? Here it is...You just have to make an account, select the number and the recording and place your call at the selected timing too. The person will receive the recording as a call. It's fun! Try it out.

Some Really Attractive Games

www.stickbaseball.com
This site is for all, from those who love baseball to people who haven't even heard of the game yet. The interface is so simple that with just a few tries you would learn how to play the game. Its a game that will keep you stuck to your PC for hours loving each and every moment you spent on the site. It has many versions of the game available i.e. different types of plays.

www.stickcricket.com
Well, needless to say this one is from the makers of stick baseball that is the one above. Its also as simple as baseball to understand and get used to the game. Its equally addictive, fun and filled with excitement. Again a must go, lovely game. 

Web Messengers

www.meebo.com
Meebo is a widley popular Web Messenger which can be used for signing onto your Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, MySpace, Facebook, AIM, ICQ, Jabber and Flixter all together at once in a single window. The interface is simple, attractive but a little heavily loaded. It has loads of features like games, webcam support and more are being added to them. So this is amazing for people who would like to use these features and also above all don't want to use different messengers instead have them all packed into your web browser.

www.ebuddy.com
E-Buddy is much more popular with its mobile version of web messenger. The big reason to this is that it has initially targeted mobile users and also that the interface is very simple just simple chatting and nothing else. Fast loading page and also as compared to meebo gets less frequently dsconnected i.e. its much more stable. But on the other side it supports only Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, AIM, ICQ, MySpace and not Jabber, Flixter and Facebook as yet, but is planning to add Facebook soon. It also doesnt have many applications like the ones above. So i would recommend it great for mobile browsing and also for people who wouldnt like anything jazzy and will be pleased by a very simple chat window with not many extra-features.

Right Places To Educate Yourself

www.academicearth.org
Ever wondered if you could listen to your lectures sitting at home itself without having the need to go to your college? OR even just play pause your lecture whenever you want, and listen to them at your own will?
Well this site give you plenty of video lectures on various topics from every category and guess what all the lectures are from world renowned Universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale, Berkeley Universities. You can spend hours on this website not just enjoying yourself but also educating yourself in an enjoyable way.
This kind of teaching is the future.

www.w3schools.com 
This site is a site strictly for people into computer programming already or those who would want to learn programing. It has very well maintained, user-friendly and in very simple language. You don't need to have some knowledge about the subject before moving into this site, you just need to have a good determination in yourself to start your lessons here at your home itself instead of joining various classes. Have a look at this site you will feel it "It makes learning simple".

Its All About Art ! ! !

www.deviantart.com
This site is like an encyclopedia of various forms of art. You will see all the artists, be it popular ones or aspiring ones, have an account in this site to show their art off to the world and also get valuable feedback from the users. It has 'n' number of categories of art and and yet very easy to surf because of its user friendly interface. Even if you are not an art fan I would recommend you to visit this site once, I'm sure you will turn into one.

www.mrpicassohead.com
This site is an online application to make your own idols or humans to be specific. There are various different typs of canvases or preset brushes available representing each and every part of your body. Thus making it simple to make a drawing out of it. You can later share your work via Email or even save it on your computer. A nice little tool for people interested in art.

You Want A Solution To Something?

www.answers.yahoo.com
Yahoo was one was the first to start this kind of a phenomenon on internet on a wide range. You can ask for any solution you want about anything be it even personal matters, there are users who answer your questions really quickly. The site is moderated frequently, so very less of messy stuff but still i think a little more strictness in moderation is required. But nevertheless it doesn't stop you from getting free solutions to your problems...

www.fixya.com
Unlike Yahoo Answers, site caters to problems just related to technical things like your AC, Mobiles, anything electronic you name it. Here there are professionals hired to answer to your queries so its pretty much obvious that you expect professional and a 100% correct solution. And also unlike yahoo no spams at all.

Open Source for Windows

www.osswin.sourceforge.net
The ultimate Open Source software source for Windows especially. This site is filled with tonnes of open-source projects and I am sure once you look into this page you will never buy a software just for the sake of its other version not available for FREE. This site takes you to the software's homepage, so basivally its a list sorted out according to its use.
Check It Out ! ! !

www.opensourcewindows.org
Now this site simplifies things and has only a list of software's that are famous, most widely used open source software's, but still people will fine something good enough as its very well arranged ito basics and advanced levels of software's separately. This site also gives a brief description about the software.

Video

www.metacafe.com
This is just another Youtube.
With a wide rage of videos, a big collection very well sorted out. You can even subscribe to your choices of videos. The unique feature it has is that it gives you a software and you can view new videos and even download them onto your computer.

Just For Fun !

www.jacksonpollock.org
Check out this site. ;)
Just for fun...

How Things Work

www.howstuffworks.com
The site name speaks for itself, it is a brilliant place to really see, discover how things works. By things i mean absolutely anything be it an eraser to your speakers t your computers to the minutest part inside your computer or any other device you want. Just name it and they have it.
It explains you in detail about the way it works and the best of all it does it in the language we understand and enjoy.
for eg. This link below explains "how automatic transmission in vehicles work".
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/automatic-transmission.htm

Its a wonderful place to spend your time.

Bookmarking Sites

www.delicious.com
This site lets is a wnderfull way to organise your favourites. You are working in different locations and different computers, hence this is a handy way to keep your booksmarks with you wherever you want in ur hands. You can make your blog private or public on your interest.
Due to the share of bookmarks across the internet omongst various users you get linked to various sites which you may not have heard of earlier.
www.ma.gnolia.com
This is a very much similar way to bookmark sites, a different interface. This site though has lesser poularity amongst various users has a better interface.

Things You Can Do With Your Pics

www.zoomin.com
So here is a site that helps you with making your digital photos alive. You can make your own image calenders,mugs, posters and even order photo frames at very cheap affordable prices. Its a thing that you would not regret spending money at.

www.picsquare.com
Now this one is the ultimate one. Here you get a range of options above the ones that you get in the above site. On registration 10 FREE prints and a keychain. It has integration with Flickr and Picassa so that you can directly print from there. You get unlimited storage too in this site itself. All in all an amazing package.

Gaming Sites

www.zapak.com
This is an ultimate gaming site for people who love flash games. It has girls section, kids section, cricket special too. Its a site where you can spend hours and hours without even even realizing its passes away. A must try for all gaming enthusiasts.

www.bubblebox.com
This is another free online gaming site, having loads and loads of options. many different varieties of games available. This one too has a "Girls Only" section. Check it out girls, you will love it. This one though has plenty of games to offer is very easy on interface, doesn't really require a high bandwidth internet connection. An ideal place to pass your time.

Greetings Sites

www.123greetings.com
This is by far the most popular greetings site today. It has an enormous collection of cards, flash cards with words that touch the heart of the readers. And the best of all its free. :)

www.hdgreetings.com
Here is a completely unique site, which offers greeting cards...umm... to be specific video greeting cards. small clips made by various artists are uploaded on the site and can be sent as a greeting card with your own personal touches to it. You have an option to upload your own photos and messages and even audio with the clips that you send. Now this one has a free and a premium section, so, many cards are available for free and if you like the premium ones you can subscribe to it.

List Of Well Known And Most Popular Websites

Today I start off with the most popular websites on the internet. Most of you all would already be aware of these sites an hence instead of one I am posting all of them together here not wasting a lot of time on these. So here the list goes :

www.facebook.com
This site has turned into an identity for everyone. Its like a virtual card on internet for most of the people. If you do not have an ID here please go ahead and check it out.

www.orkut.com
This is another social networking site brought to you by google.
Its simple user interface makes it one of the best social networking sites on the internet.

www.gmail.com
By far the best and the most secure e-mail sites right now with a storage capacity of more than 7GB and increasing day by day. The google labs feature included recently inside gmail enhances its usage to a great extent and makes it an amazing place to be.

Thats it for the day.
Will be back with more soon.
Thank You.
Mohit

My 1st Post

Hi,
I am Mohit, a student from India. This Blog is basically to bring the sites that I feel are useful in our life, maybe not in our day to day life but surely sometime or the other. People who love surfing the web, finding out new innovative stuffs on net would love to keep this site as a feed and visit this page regularly. I came up with this idea as this is something i do on a daily basis spending time on internet, it absolutely isn't a bad idea to share my knowledge with you, after all this is the best way to learn new things i.e. with experience.
Well since this is my 1st true attempt to make a blog i have kept it to "weekly dosage". If i really do get a good response, I will definitely try and make it to "daily dosage".
I will be starting off with my first site from 8th Jan 09 and would be pleased to have you all participating by commenting on my posts, giving your own suggestions, etc.
Thank You.
Mohit